Accumulator power system.



F. SAMUELSON. AGUUMULATOR POWER SYSTEM. APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. s, 1913.

1,129,735. Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

.w/IIIMAWJI/IIIII Inventor:

Witnesses:

Fr-eder-i cK SamueLson,

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nu" Nnh'R/s FFI'FRS ru Imlru IHIIU. WASHINGTON. u t

UNITED ETATEE PATENT OFFIQE.

FREDERICK SAMUELSON, OF RUGBY, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ACUUMULATOR POWER SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Original application filed January 16, 1909, Serial No. 472,590. Divided and this application filed September 8, 1913. Serial No. 788,534.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK SAMUELsoN, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Rugby, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Accumulator Power Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention. relates to power systems in which low-pressure steam from some suitable source is used to operate a turbine or other engine, an accumulator being connected to the source in parallel with the turbine so that it can store or accumulate steam when the supply from the source exceeds the demand of the turbine and deliver steam to the turbine when the supply from the source is unequal to said demand.

This application is a division of my application, Serial No. 472,590, filed in the United States Patent Office January 16, 1909, under the title of accumulators, the division being made in response to a requirement of the United States Patent Office under Rules 41 and 12 of the Office Practice.

The invention is more particularly applicable for use in connection with intermittently-loaded, non-condensing steam engines, the exhaust from which can be utilized for supplying a continuously loaded engine such as a steam turbine, but it is not limited to such use.

In carrying out my invention I employ an accumulator comprising members that are movable relatively to each other for varying its volumetric capacity.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated it consists of a bell which is suitably counterweighted and suspended on chains or the like, with its lower edge dipping into a water or other liquid seal, the bell being freely movable vertically so that the pressure of the exhaust steam may be maintained constant or substantially so by variation of the volume of the space between the bell and the fixed floor of the accumulator.

- In my improved accumulator it is essential to prevent, or to minimize as much as possible, the condensation of the steam due to the large radiating surface of the bell and for this purpose I may provide the bell with a coating of suitable heat-insulating composition, or I may employ air insulation by surrounding the bell with an outer shell which is secured to said bell by suitable heatinsulating fastenings and separated therefrom by an air space. Instead of, or in add tion to, the insulating lagging on the outside of the bell, I may cover the inside of the bell with a non-condensing composition which may be suitably waterproofed on its inner surface to prevent damage to its material by the water of the seal. By insulating the steam from the metal the heat loss by conduction through the metal to the water seal and by radiation therefrom is prevented. Or instead of the above arrangements I may form the bell entirely of wood or other heat-insulating material.

In order to allow the excess steam to escape in the event of the bell rising up to the top of its guides, an escape valveis provided which is automatically actuated as the bell reaches the limit of its movement. Means are also provided for preventing the complete exhaustion of the contents of the accumulator and the formation of vacuum therein.

The exhaust from the steam engine or other apparatus that forms the source of supply is led into the accumulator practically at atmospheric pressure and the supply to a secondary engine, such as a turbine, takes place at the same pressure whatever may be the amount of the discharge from the steam engine. By the use of this improved accumulator I therefore avoid variable back pressure on the primary engine such as is inherent in accumulators of the type where water is the heat storing agent and I also avoid the considerable loss in thermal efi'iciency inherent in such accumulators on account of the drop in pressure necessary for again forming the steam required by the secondary engine.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one of the embodiments of my invention, Figure 1 is a side View of an accumulator with parts in section; Fig. 2 is a partial top view of the accumulator; and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a power plant or system comprising a non-condensing engine, an accumulator and a low pressure turbine.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 3, 1 indicates a variably or intermittently loaded, non-condensing, reciprocating steam engine receiving its live steam supply through a pipe 2. The pipe or conduit 3 conveys the exhaust from the engine 1 to a pipe 4:

leading to the low pressure turbine 5 or to a pipe 6 leading to an accumulator 7, or the pipe 3 may deliver steam to both the accumulator and the turbine depending upon the relation between tlie supply of and demand for steam. When the demand of the turbine for steam exceeds the supply from the engine, steam to meet this demand will be taken from the accumulator. The turbine drives an electric generator 8 and its exhaust 9 is connected to any suitable condensingv apparatus; The current from the generator is utilized in any desired manner. Suitable valves as 31 and 32 are arranged in the piping connecting the engine, accumulator and the turbine to regulate the flow therethrough, one valve 33 being preferably arranged to divert the engine exhaust to the atmosphere when for any reason it is not desirable for the accumulator and the turbine to receive it.

The weight of the accumulator bell is counterbalanced by weights 10. The lower edge of its vertical wall is provided with a water seal 11. The pipe 6 is led through a pit 12 so as to pass below the seal 11 and enter the interior of the accumulator. The area of the pipe 6 will be proportional to the quantity of fluid that it has to convey. Obviously more than one pipe may be used to obtain the necessary area, if desired. The floor of the accumulator is crowned so that any condensation that might occur will drain into the seal or well 11.

The accumulator or holder 7 is of doublewalled steel plate construction leaving an insulating air space 13 between its inner and outer walls. These walls may also be given a coating of insulating material 14 if desired, but the air insulation will be sufficient in many cases. In both the inner and outer walls are man holes each provided with a cover 30, by means of which access may be had to the interior of the accumulator when for any reason it becomes necessary or desirable. At suitable places on its circumference spiral guides 15 are fixed to the accumulator or holder. Each of these guides passes between two rollers 16 mounted on the foundation of the apparatus, the function of the spiral guides being to prevent the holder from tilting. The accumulator is provided with a small dome 17 which contains valves necessary for its proper working. When it is fully charged any excess steam should be led away, preferably through the top of the accumulator, because if no such outlet is provided the steam pres sure inside the accumulator will force water and steam under the seal at the periphery of the holder and the steam will escape in an erratic and unsatisfactory manner, causing'the holder to jump up and down. To prevent this a valve 18 is located at the top of the dome and held against its seat 19 by means of two external springs 20. When the accumulator is near its highest position, the actuating rod 21 which is connected to the valve 18 is arrested from traveling farther upward by means of a stop 22, and if the holder continues to travel upward, the valve 18 is drawn away from its seat, permitting the steam to escape. The rod 21 passes freely through a relatively large hole in the valve 18 and is loosely guided near its lower end in the combined stop and guide 22. This arrangement compensates for the slight angular movement of the accumulator or holder 7 as it moves up and down due to the guides 15 and their cooperating rollers 16. As soon as the accumulator descends again the springs will close the valve. Should the accumulator descend until it is about twelve inches from its lowest position, the valve 23 will enter the bell-mouthed opening 24 of the main steam supply pipe 6 and thus stop any fur ther discharge of steam from the accumulator. The valve- 23 is mounted to slide onthe rod 21, but normally rests on the shoulder 25 on said rod. On account of internal condensation the accumulator may continue to travel downward slowly for about twelve inches taking a period of time for this movement which would in most cases bridge over the interval during which exhaust steam is not available. The object of the valve 23 is to prevent the accumulator from giving up all its steam since on further demand for steam a greater or less degree of vacuum would be created inside the accumulator and air would have to be let in to prevent the structure from collapsing. This air would eventually find its way into the condenser and would greatly impair its vacuum and interfere with the eilicient operation of the system. Should, however,- the accumulator continue to descend below the point at which the valve 23 becomes operative, the actuating valve rod will engage a stop 26 which prevents its going farther in a downward direction, and while the holder continues to sink the small valve 27 which is located. onthe valve 18 will be opened to admit air into the holder, thus preventing a vacuum being formed and safeguarding the structure. At the same time the valve 23 is down on its seat. If now a fresh supply of steam is received, the valve 23 lifted by the steam pressure slides upward on the actuating rod and admits steam into the holder, which will rise and close the valve 27 to'prevent air coming in or steam escaping.

In a system of the character described, while the engine is working underload, all the steam necessary for the turbine will go direct without passing through the accumulater. In accumulators of the type in which water is the heat storing agency it is necessary to pass all the steam through the accumulator, both that which is going to be stored up and that which is used by the turbine while the engine is working. Thus in such an accumulator the whole steam supply is degraded from a heat point of view. Efforts have been made to overcome the objectionable features of these water accumulators but the piping and valve arrangements become so very complicated and undesirable as to prevent their use. This means that with my improved arrangement in addition to the advantages previously mentioned, a higher efliciency is obtained and also that the storage capacity can be made smaller for a given steam supply. It will be noted that in my improved arrangement the accumulator and turbine are in parallel relation with respect to the supply of steam and hence it is unnecessary for all of the steam entering the turbine to first pass through the accumulator. In this manner I avoid losses which would otherwise occur.

The accumulator hereinbefore described is not in and by itself claimed herein because it forms the subject-matter of my application above identified.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

I/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

1. In a power system, the combination of a source of low-pressure steam, an accumulator, a turbine, and conduits connecting the accumulator and turbine in parallel to the source, said accumulator delivering motive fluid to the turbine under certain conditions and being constructed and arranged to vary its volumetric capacity in accordance with the amount of fluid which it receives from the source.

2. In a power system, the combination of an engine, a low pressure turbine utilizing exhaust steam from the engine, and an accumulator having relatively movable walls between which is a chamber of variable volumetric capacity which is connected to the engine exhaust and to the turbine so as to store steam from the engine or deliver the steam so stored to the turbine according to whether the supply from the former exceeds the demand of the latter or vice versa.

3. In a power system, the combination of a non-condensing engine, a low pressure condensing turbine utilizing exhaust steam from the engine, and an accumulator having an automatically variable volumetric capacity which is connected to the engine exhaust and under certain conditions delivers motive fluid to the turbine at substantially constant pressure.

4. In a power system, the combination of a source of low pressure steam, an engine connected to said source to receive steam therefrom, and an accumulator of variable volume also connected with said source to store steam uncondensed at substantially the pressure of the supply when the supply exceeds the demand of said engine and to deliver the steam so stored to said engine at substantially the same pressure when the demand of said engine exceeds the supply.

5. In a power system, the combination of a source of low pressure steam, an engine connected to said source to receive steam therefrom, and an accumulator connected to said source in parallel with said engine, said accumulator being adapted to store steam at substantially the temperature of the supply when the supply exceeds the demand of said engine and to deliver the steam so stored to said engine at substantially the same temperature when the demand of said engine exceeds the supply.

6. In a power system, the combination of a high pressure reciprocating engine whose exhaust is intermittent and also variable in amount, a condensing turbine which continuously receives and is driven by the exhaust of the engine, an accumulator in free connection with the exhaust outlet of the engine and inlet of the turbine and arranged to increase its volumetric capacity during the periods when the supply of exhaust fluid from the engine exceeds the demands of the turbine and decreases said capacity during the period that the engine delivers less fluid than is consumed by the turbine.

7. In a power system, the combination of a source of supply which intermittentlydischarges fluxes of low pressure elastic fluid which vary in amount and duration, an accumulator, one wall of which is movable to enlarge the space content thereof by an amount sufficient to accommodate the fluxes as they are received from the source and is movable in the opposite direction to decrease the space content as said accumulator discharges, a low pressure turbine, and conduit means connecting said source, accumulator and turbine.

8. In a power system, the combination of a high pressure reciprocating steam engine whose exhaust is intermittent and also variable in amount, a condensing turbine which continuously receives and is driven by the exhaust of the engine, an accumulatoi connected to the exhaust outlet of the engine and inlet of the turbine and comprising two principal members movable with respect to each other to vary the volumetric capacity thereof by an amount determined by the variations in the volume of the exhaust fluxes from the engine, and conduit means connecting the engine and turbinein series and the accumulator to both the engine and turbine.

9". In an apparatus for utilizing steam, a variable intermittently acting source of steam, and a separate device for utilizing said steam, in combination with an intermediate constant pressure steam accumulator communicating directly with the said source of steam and the device for utilizing the" steam.-

10. In an apparatus for utilizing waste steam, a primary intermittently acting fluid engine, and a secondary steam fluid engine adapted to be operated by the waste fluid I from the primary engine, in combination with an intermediate constant pressure fluid accumulator communicating directly with the waste of the" primary engine and with the secondary engine.

11; In an apparatus for utilizing waste steam, a primary intermittently acting steam engine, a secondary steam, engine adapted for operation by exhaust steam from the primary engine, and an intermediate, weighted, floating bell having free direct communication both with the steam outlet of the primary engine andthe steam inlet of the secondary engine.

12. In a steam distributing system, a variable intermittently acting source of steam, and a separate device for utilizing said steam, in combination with an intermediate constant pressure steamaccumulator communicating directly with said source of steam and the device for utilizing the steam, the variable source of steam being independent in action of the device for utilizing the steam.

13. In a steam distributing system, a primary intermittently acting fluid engine, and a secondary fluid engine adapted to be operate'd by the waste'fiuid from the primary engine, combination with an intermediate constant pressure fluid accumulator communicating. directly with the waste of the primary engine and with the secondary engine, the primary engine being independent in action of the'secondary engine.

14 In a steam distributing system, a primary intermittently acting, steam engine, a secondary steam engine adapted for operation'byexhaust steam from-the primary engine, and connecting conduit means between the exhaust outlet of the primary engine and the inlet ofthe secondary engine, said conduit meanscomprising' a floating, variable volume member adapted to exert constant pressure on the line irrespective of variations in its volume, and said primary engine being independent in action of said secondary engine".

1 5. In a steam distributing system, a primary intermittently acting steam engine, a secondary steam engine adapted for operation by exhaust steam from the primary en-. gine, and connecting conduit means between the exhaust outlet of the primary engine and the inlet of the secondary engine, said conduit means comprising a floating, variable volume member with which said inlet and said outlet communicate, said member being adapted to exert constant pressure on the line irrespective of variations in its volume, and said primary engine being independent in action of said secondary engine.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand thistwenty first day of August, 1913.

FREDERICK SAMUELSON.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES H. FULLER, J'.. A. Fos'rnn;

Copies of'this pa-tent may be: obtained for five cents each, lay-addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

washi'ngtongm c. 

